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Faulkner earns dramatic victory in NAIA World Series opener

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Faulkner players mob Luis Sanchez after his game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning. (Dale Grosbach/Dale Grosbach Sports)
May 23, 2014; Harris Field, Lewiston, ID; 2014 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series Game 2.
Faulkner University (AL) Eagles vs. Georgetown College (MO) Tigers.
After leading 4-0 going into the sixth, Faulkner came back to score in the bottom of the ninth to win 5-4.
Mandatory Credit: Dale Grosbach-Dale G Sports www.dalegsports.com/marketplace
(Dale Grosbach)

LEWISTON, Idaho - Faulkner started its defense of the NAIA World Series championship in dramatic fashion.

Luis Sanchez singled in Edgar Figueroa in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Eagles to a 5-4 victory over Georgetown (Ky.) on Friday in the opening round of the 2014 Avista-NAIA World Series at Harris Field.

With one out, Figueroa hit a ground ball up the middle, which was fielded by Tiger shortstop Steven Mancilla. His throw to first sailed into the Georgetown dugout. The infield hit and error pushed Figueroa to second, and Sanchez followed with a single to center.

"I was looking for a pitch to hit back up the middle, because they were shading me toward the hole," Sanchez said after being mobbed by his teammates. "The first pitch wasn't the one I wanted, but the second one was. I hit it hard, and I knew with Figgy's speed he'd score. This feels great, to win a game like that."

Faulkner (50-14), the fourth seed, earns a bye with the victory, advancing to a Monday afternoon battle with the winner of today's game between top-seeded Oklahoma Baptist and ninth-seeded Tabor (Kan.), which edged Southern Poly 1-0 in the first game of the tournament.

The Eagles' Memorial Day game is set for a 5 p.m.

"I think it's almost impossible to win this tournament if you lose in the first round," said Faulkner head coach Patrick McCarthy, whose Eagles won for the sixth straight time in Lewiston, having captured the national championship here a season ago. "If we'd lost we'd have had to turn around in 18 hours and play in an elimination game. Now we get a little rest, and hopefully get settled in.

"The first game of this tournament is very hard for everybody," he added, "because you're a little nervous and uncomfortable. If you can find a way to win, you're able to relax a bit and get more used to the setting. We were able to do that today."